WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978
MISS BENNETT MADE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS RECEIVING RECURRENT SUBSIDIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. IN THE U.K., RESIDENTS IN PRIVATE NURSING HOMES STILL RECEIVE THE STATE PENSION. IF A PERSON CHOOSES TO USE HIS OLD AGE ALLOWANCE TO ENABLE HIM TO RESIDE IN A PRIVATE OLD PEOPLE'S HOME OR NURSING HOME, HE SHOULD NOT BE PENALISED, SHE SAID.
COMMUNITY NURSING
THE UNOFFICIALS STRONGLY ADVOCATED ADOPTING AND EXTENDING THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE.
DR. FANG SAID COMMUNITY NURSING WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN PROVIDING CARE FOR THE AGED WITHIN THEIR FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND WOULD RELEASE BEDS IN HOSPITALS FOR THOSE WHO REQUIRE MORE INTENSIVE MEDICAL CARE.
MISS BENNETT POINTED OUT THAT THE PLANNING RATIO FOR HONG KONG IS TO BE ONE COMMUNITY NURSE FOR 3,000 PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65, WHILST IN ENGLAND, IT IS ONE FOR 1,400 AND THERE ARE FAR MORE DOCTORS WILLING AND ABLE TO MAKE HOME VISITS.
SHE ASKED IF IT IS POSSIBLE OR PRACTICABLE FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MAKE A SURVEY OF SUCH HOME VISITS PY DOCTORS IN HONG KONG.
REGARDLESS OF THE SURVEY SHE ADDED, IT IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY NURSES AND THE RATIO OF NURSES TO THE ELDERLY POPULATION SHOULD BE INCREASED.
MRS. KWAN KO STU-WAH SAID THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE SERVICE HAS BEEN CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED BY THE PILOT SCHEME CONDUCTED
EY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. SHE HOPED THAT ENCOURAGING RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE MADE BY THE JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE WHICH WILL SHORTLY REVIEW THE SCHEME.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT COMMUNITY NURSES CAN TRAIN VOLUNTEERS TO VISIT OLD PEOPLE AND TO CARRY OUT MINOR NURSING DUTIES, FOLLOWING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ST. JOHN'S AMBULANCE.
THE SERVICES OF HEALTH VISITORS AND THE COMMUNITY NURSES CAN BE COMBINED TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE HEALTH EDUCATION IS BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE ELDERLY.
MISS BENNETT ALSO THOUGHT THAT COMMUNITY NURSES ARE IDEALLY PLACED TO EDUCATE THE FAMILY IN THE CARE OF THEIR ELDERLY MEMBERS.
SHE NOTED THAT THE AIM OF EXISTING GERIATRIC SERVICES IS TO RESTORE INDEPENDENCE FOR THE ELDERLY AND NOT TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM CARE. ONE OF THE MOST DISTRESSING ASPECTS OF THIS IS THE FREQUENT DESIRE OF THE OTHER FAMILY MENDERS TO REFUSE THE ELDERLY TO RETURN HOME, SHE SAID.
THE COMMUNITY NURSES WOULD MEET WITH AND DISCUSS WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS HOW THEY COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE POST- HOSPITAL CARE, AND PROVIDE THE REASSURANCE TO ENABLE THE ELDERLY TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY,
/THE HON. ONG LAM
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